Dog For Condo Living?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
Cannot be a girly/foofoo dog
Cannot be a dog that sheds a lot/drools
Must be capable of training
Does not bark excessively
Cannot be too big (condo remember)
NO CATS
Cannot require a lot of exercise (have to work 9 hrs/day)
To be honest that dog that perfectly matches with exception of foofoo is a poodle…but I cannot be seen walking a poodle. Some of you will say my list is too strict, well I do not think so…I really dont care about a dog but my gf wants one. Since we are looking for places both in state (California) and out (a lot harder to do!!!) I am trying to compromise.
So far I have one breed in mind…Westie (or westland terrier? or something like that). They are all white, mid size, decent looking dogs. Their hair comes out like 2x/year or something. I can deal with that I guess.
Any advice on this breed or any other dog in mind…Remember NO FOO FOO DOGS.
THANKS!!
Related West Highland White Terrier posts:
You’re right, a poodle (or poodle-terrier mix) fits your criteria perfectly.
And amazingly enough, poodles are not necessarily “frou frou” dogs. It’s all a matter of how you clip the dog.
I personally like the teddy bear or lamb clip on poodles. There are no pom poms, nothing’s shaved to the skin, and it’s relatively easy to maintain.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVIdVFcvJ…
Some of the burliest guys I know just flip when they realize how great a poodle can be. Happens time and time again.
Besides the shedding and exercise issue a good dog that is on the smaller side and is wonderful (in my encounters with them) are corgis. My best friend has one. She is extremely loving and obident. Plus is a good dog for apartment or other small area livings. Isn’t a girly dog at all.
Shih Tzus, as long as you keep the bows and sweaters off of them, manage to be cute without being foofoo. They’re actually kind of scruffy if you just comb their fur out and don’t get them professionally groomed. They’re also calm and clean because they’re bred to be indoor dogs. Those terriers are high-energy and will chew the hell out of a sofa if they’re bored enough.
9 hours a day ? Look im sorry but no dog fits your descirptions . I mean i go to school for 8 hours then i come home to walk it for an hour or 30 minutes and give the dog love and attention . If you are not commited to taking care of the dog or fitting its needs or atleast putting it in a crate while your gone you are not ready and shoud not have a dog . Westies are active dogs and will do ok in an apartment . But should atleast have a yard to run around in even if they are small that would not be a right dog for you . Basset Hound is the only thing i can come up with that fits you because there lazy and arent as active and sleep almost half the day .
no offense but your being a tad bit picky..sometimes you just have to realize that the time isn’t right.and if both of you are gone 9 hours a day then who is going to take care of the puppy? are you wanting to get a baby puppy, like3-6months? cuz if you are they have to be let out every couple hours..who are you going to get to do that?you have to train the dog, to do thing you want or don’t want..otherwise i would go for a mixed breed, they are awesome fabulous dogs..i have one and everyone i know loves him and wishes i could clone him, he is soooo good..but you need to think about the dog, not you, because once you get the dog, he/she is your responsibility and can’t be left alone for 9 hours…and all dogs need exercise, even with a 9 hour work day i’m sure you can manage a 30 min walk each day..if you can’t then don’t get the dog..
yeah, what do you want a dog or a midget pirate?
I’m not certain you are ready for a dog in your life. Having a dog is very similar to having a child as you have this living, breathing creature that depends on you for it’s food, it’s health, it’s activities and it’s company. You most likely would find it’s needs a bit too demanding and it’s presence too restricting of your own life. If you wanted to go off for a long weekend, you would need a sitter for the dog. Going straight from work to a night out is out of the question, the dog needs to be let out and fed, it has been locked up all day while you were at work.
Please write down some of the logical reasons people are going to give you for not getting a dog right now and be honest and forthright with your girlfriend that you honestly are not ready for the sacrifices that would have to be made.
On a side note: If you ever get a dog, I do hope you won’t let that macho image get in the way of neutering a male dog!! If the idea of walking a male that had his testicles removed bothers you, then check into ‘neuticals’ which are replacements on the idea of breast implants only made to make a neutered dog appear to be intact.
I think you’re right on the money with Westie. I would actually recommend a Westie-Poo, reason being is because though Westies do shed a little, Poodles don’t and that’s the dominant gene, therefore there’s a good chance that a Westie-Poo would not shed at all. I’m not just guessing about that either, I actually own a Westie-Poo myself and she does not shed. I do not have a problem with barking, and as long as I give her a couple toys she gets all the exercise she needs just running around the house. And before anyone starts bashing me for saying that, I do walk the dog at least every other day and take her to the park for hours on end as often as I can, because I enjoy it. However, if you research Westies you will read from accredible sites that Westies can exercise themselves if they have the space. Mine spends two or three hours of the day just doing laps around the coffee table at like 90 mph. As far as training goes, you’re going to have to train any pup but Westies are very easy to housebreak, and a Westie-Poo is even better because of how intelligent Poodles are. The dog shouldn’t get to big either, 15-25 lbs max, and probably no more than a foot tall, though if she has standard poodle in her she could get a little taller. Hope that helps!
Other than size I would have recommended a retired racing Greyhound. I know a few that live in Condos.
They are couch spuds with a little daily exercise.
My Whippets do well in my condo and have littermates in Condos. But 9 hours would be a long time for a pup to be alone. And they do need to run off leash about an hour a day.
I would say look at adopting an older dog….not a puppy.
So it would already be house trained and if you exercise it before you leave for work the dog should be able to relax and sleep while you are gone.
You might look at a Pug, they tend to be fairly lazy as adults.
Pugs can shed tho. Terriers do tend to be high energy, esp. as puppies ! I love Cairns and Westies but haven’t lived with the breeds.
It is nice you are trying to compromise. But, maybe you need to discuss with your gf.
Tell her you are not sure a dog would be happy, nor get enough exercise not attention. Tell her to make lists to convince you.
One) from the dog’s perspective. What would a puppy like to do? What a puppy needs.
Two) who is going to potty train it
where is it going to potty during the day when you are gone? Where is it going to stay when you are gone? If it barks while you are gone and bothers the neighbors and you get complaints? Who is going to walk the dog? Even in the rain? You get up in the morning, let it out of its crate for an hour, stuff it back in, when you come home, and puppy has been in a crate for its 2nd 8 hours, is it fair to stuff it back into a crate for another 3-4 hours when the 2 of you want to go out for dinner and the movies?
Having a dog is close to having a child. You may not be ready. You may want to spend your leisure time with her.
Poodles are barkers. In fact, the smaller the dog, the more likely they are to bark.
A Westie (West Highland Terrier) would fit the bill, but they are a bit high energy. (All terrriers are, but they have WONDERFUL personalities..)
I had a beautiful Bichon Frise/Terrier cross. Bichon’s don’t shed and are mostly non-allergenic. They don’t drool, are very personable and quite smart – very easy to train. And because they are about the same size as a poodle (Westies are small dogs to – not mid-size as you mentioned…) they don’t need a lot of “formal” excercise.
Good luck finding the right pet.
I say forget the dog.. Your list is strict and you don’t seem to have the idea that a dog needs training.. but bigger than that you already don’t want a dog.. You are embarassed by walking a dog that you don’t think is ‘manly ‘ I say forget the dog..
A sheltie or a westie would go insane locked up for 9 hours a day –
There is NO dog that meets your criteria – NONE.
Dogs need time, attention, companionship.
Get a stuffed dog until your situation changes – please!!!!